It’s been thirty years since the release of Four Weddings and a Funeralthe romantic comedy – which has become a true classic in the world of cinema – that launched Hugh Grant’s career, consecrating him to superstardom. It was 1994: the film, directed by Mike Newell and written by Richard Curtis, captures the essence of British humour, telling the story of a group of friends who together face love, heartbreak and the unpredictability of life. Hugh Grant plays the charming and clumsy Charles, a stuttering serial monogamistwho falls in love with a charming American, Andie MacDowell. It was a success with critics and audiences.
65 weddings in 11 years
Richard Curtis had written a screenplay inspired by a period of his life, lasting 11 years, during which he attended 65 weddings. The story was set in upper-middle-class London circles, a world very familiar to Curtis.who had attended Oxford University. The script was ignored for a long time, until director Mike Newell stumbled upon it on his desk, and discovered how funny it was.
36 days of shooting
Casting began in early 1992, but was halted a few months later when financing for the film fell through. Production began in the summer of 1993 with a budget of less than £3 million and filming lasted only 36 days.
An opportunity to socialize
The film’s shoestring budget proved to be a great opportunity for socializing. «There was no money for anything, least of all for individual cars: we travelled in a van.“, recalled Simon Callow, who played Gareth, who died of a heart attack during the groom’s toast. “By the end of filming, even if you wrapped at three, the bus wouldn’t leave until seven. I filled that time by writing a book in my trailer. But even I, after a certain point, couldn’t do it anymore. So we’d gather around six on the steps of Andie’s trailer and open a few bottles of wine.”
The extras in their own clothes
There wasn’t enough money to pay for the extras and costumes. Duncan Kenworthy, the producer, who was very good at saving, announced: «What we need to do is find the people who own the tailcoats and black ties.so we don’t have to pay them.” And so it was done: the extras put on their clothes.
David is really deaf
David Bower, who plays Charles’ deaf brother David, is very much so: «The idea was to create a comical situation, with deaf and hearing people communicating poorly with each other. Richard Curtis had to work hard to convince his team to hire a truly deaf person to play the role.”
“It wasn’t me in the coffin”
The funeral scene, where Matthew reads the moving poem Funeral Blues of WH mourning the death of her partner Gareth, was filmed over two days at St Clement’s Church in West Thurrock, Essex. “It was still the days of Aids. I thought: “Richard has created an incredible, life-enhancing gay man who dies of something other than AIDS.. That’s very important,” says Simon Callow (Gareth). “I often get congratulations on my funeral, although I have to stress that I wasn’t there. It wasn’t me in that coffin.”
A resounding success
In July 1993, Newell screened some early footage of the film at Shepperton Studios to the cast and crew, with mixed results. «I remember showing about 30 minutes of the film in dead silence.except for Andie in the front row, who was just laughing her head off from start to finish,” explains the director. But at the final screening in a theater in Soho, London, By the end of 1993, the film had become a huge successThe film was released in the United States in March 1994. It was released in the United Kingdom two months later, and premiered at London’s Odeon Leicester Square: Grant’s then-girlfriend, Liz Hurley, made headlines around the world.
Nearly $246 million
The film was a huge success, grossing $245.7 million at the worldwide box office and earning two Oscar nominations in 1995, including Best Picture. Four Weddings and a Funeral was ranked as one of the best British films of all time in polls by Empire, British Film Institute And Time Out.
Source: Vanity Fair
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